Page 96 of Wishing for La Luna
Maeven
Call me.
I dial, and she answers on the first ring. “I was trying to catch you before you went in. My contact told me this morning about it and I didn’t want you to be blindsided.”
My skin is hot as my hands balling into fists. “Too late. I walked into a nightmare, but I accepted that shitshow of an assignment.”
She sighs. “As you should. You know I’m not going to sugarcoat this. It’s true, you could have said no, but PR companies have a long memory. I knew before you did and I don’t work for Elevate, which tells you PR people also have blabber mouths—unless you’re me or my people, of course. My point is that you would have immediately gotten a reputation for being too emotional.”
“I never saw this coming. Rio is going to flip.”
“Yeah,” Maeven says. “But he will have to understand. This is your job, and it’s just work. You’re not going to be out there hanging with Thierry. As a matter of fact, even if you’re in the same venue, keep your distance. But on a positive note, if anyone can do this, you can. The last six months have prepared you to handle it. This is the type of portfolio careers are built on.”
I nod like she can see me, but I’m not sure. I look around the room, and my eyes land on my suitcase, and for the first time, I dread my trip. Because there’s no way Rio will understand this when I don’t. I’ll just have to explain it to him like Victor did to me.
Like Maeven just confirmed.
But the knot in the pit of my stomach tells me it won’t be that easy.
23
Rio
Miami, FL
“Why would you take that assignment?” I say louder than I mean to. My voice carries and echoes throughout the room.
“What do you mean why?” Luna answers, adding, “My boss called me into his office and said he was assigning the client to me.”
“They know you have a history with him, and they’re making you his publicist. They’re trying to capitalize on the whole thing. My real question is why you would let this happen?”
“It’s just a job assignment. It doesn’t matter who it is. I’m new. I couldn’t say no, Rio.”
“This is not right. That asshole wants to fuck you. He took the first chance he got—with you almost unconscious and Adina stepping away—to make his move.”
What would have happened to her if I had not seen it go down? Why do I even need to explain that to her?
“I understand more than anyone. I’m not going to be alone with him, and even if I am, I’m not getting drugged again. I can handle him. He’s a challenge, and it could make my career.”
The natural way she responds, like this shit is normal, stings. “Luna, are you listening to yourself? You don’t need this challenge. You have so much going for yourself. And you will be alone with him. Maeven is constantly there when there’s a crisis.”
Why is this so hard for her to grasp?
She crosses her arms in front of her. “It’s different. Maeven is personally invested in you. No matter how much of a hard-ass she can be, she adores you. You are family to her. I won’t ever forget what happened with Thierry. I don’t trust him, so I am not personally investing in him. I am just doing my job.”
“It’s not that simple,Mami. And I’m going to be on the other side of the world. I can’t be there to protect you.”
She takes my hand. “You don’t have to worry about me.”
“How can I not? Why don’t you come with me? You can do the job from anywhere.” It’s wishful thinking, but I’m desperate.
She shakes her head. “I can’t. I’m expected to be in the office half the time. I don’t have the clout of a senior publicist. I still need to run things by a peer mentor in the beginning. I have to earn my stripes.
I close my eyes and grasp at the patience I don’t feel.
She tugs at my hand. “I’ll fly out as much as I can.” She smiles. “I have the money now.”
I frown at her. “Do you think that was ever the problem? I could fly you out anytime. If I don’t, the label will because you’re important to me.”
